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Animal Friends' Black Tie and Tails - 11/7/09

Animal Friend’s “Black Tie & Tails” event, themed “Quite a Crowd” certainly made tails wag. The sold-out evening brought 425 guests to the Circuit Center & Ballroom — and that number doesn’t include the furry friends from Animal Friend’s shelters who also arrived in black-tie attire. “This is the only event in town where you’ll see ladies dressed in ball gowns cuddling with dogs on the dance floor,” says Jolene Miklas, director of communications. The Fluted Mushroom served up pumpkin ravioli, a sushi bar, vodka sampling station, and treat cart at the end of the night. Humans and animals alike horsed around on the dance floor as the Nick Dialoiso Orchestra played everything from Jack Johnson to Lady Gaga. Featured artist Marc Tetro provided all the artwork for the event, as well as two pieces to be sold in the live auction. In live and silent auctions, guests bid on artwork and trips to the Napa Valley and Telluride, Colorado. They also collectively bid $54,000, which was matched by honorary chairs Gail and Tom Buckner, to underwrite spay and neuter operations. The event broke several records, raising $409,000, the most ever, and breaking the adoption record the next day with 20 adoptions. Photography by Megan Wylie